infatuation|reddie

fourteen

After an excruciatingly long wait, Richie Tozier bent his head down to place a sweet, ghostly kiss on his best friends lips.

He didn't know when the cops or the ambulance had gotten there, but he was still on the floor with Eddie's body- the blood that soaked on his shirt and flesh was drying. And the blood that was smeared on Richie's cheek. Some cop poked Richie's shoulder to try and get his attention when they came to investigate the robbery and murder, but Richie didn't budge. His eyes were droopy and he was drained, but Richie did not want to look away from Eddie.

But he had to, so he did. Richie looked up at the police officer, who was blonde and had a very square frame.

"Kid, we need you to step away from the body."

"I don't want to."

"Stand up. We're goin' to take care of him."

Richie's jaw clenched, and he felt Eddie's small body get ripped away from his arms in a matter of seconds. Richie stood up, although his knees felt heavy and his feet felt like they were dipped in hardening concrete. He moved his body forward unwillingly into a police car. He had to squint a little because the red and blue flashing lights were blinding him. Apparently they were going to take him home and tomorrow they'd investigate him, what he saw, who he was to the deceased Edward Kaspbrak.

I'm supposed to be his boyfriend. I was supposed to protect him, I'm responsible for his death. Richie thought. I'm the murderer.

Richie watched as a few people from the ambulance carried what he knew was Eddie's body inside of a black body bag. He realized that this was the last time he could have made Eddie smile and laugh. He didn't know how to feel about it. But he was angry at himself, very dissapointed...

•

His room felt tense and foggy, his shirt and pillow was soaked with tears.

Richie's mother was sitting with him on his bed the next morning after the shooting, and Maggie told him Eddie's mother was at the police station. Richie was sobbing into her shoulder; and Maggie rubbed her heartbroken boys back. She knew what heartbreak felt like, but she doesn't know how it feels when the love of your life gets shot and dies in your arms. Richie's hands are digging into his exposed thighs- he hadn't bothered to change his boxers or shower.

"I miss him so much..."

"I know you do, Rich. I'm so sorry this happened."

"I loved him." Richie sniffled, although lots of his snot soaked Maggie's shirt. "I-I loved him." His mom sighed.

"Richie, look at me." He looked at her from above. "It wasn't your fault."

"Yes it was!!"

"You were not the one who murdered Eddie."

Richie began sobbing again.

The moments where he saw with his own eyes Eddie getting shot replayed in his mind like a broken, never-ending record. He can see very vividly the moment when Eddie's brown eyes were shut and his body was just bones and flesh- his red blood soaked his and Richie's clothes. Richie can remember those treasured moments he'd had with Eddie an hour prior- he'd almost kissed him again. And then he did plant a kiss on Eddie's pale, dry lips- except the boy didn't feel it that time.

Maggie left Richie's room after she reminded him to shower, change and brush his teeth. But he couldn't find the willpower in himself to do anything. He was broken. Eddie was dead.

After he eventually did shower and get new clothes on, there was a knock at his door. Richie opened it, expecting to see his mom.

"Hey, Rich."

"Stan?" Richie looked the Uris boy up and down, he was wearing an unusual black jacket and sweatpants (Stan doesn't usually wear that stuff) and his shoelaces weren't tied. He looked at Stan's face, and his pastel-blue eyes were droopy and he was visibly lachrymose. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?"

"Sure," Richie let him in the room. "Uh, how's it goin'?" Richie tried pulling off his normal, not-heartbroken tone. Although he sniffled and it gave away his crying.

Stan shrugged and sat down on the foot of Richie's bed. "We all heard what happened."

"Oh."

"....Why didn't you save him?" Stan looked Richie directly in the eyes, and that was all it took for the black haired boy to break down again.

"I'm sorry, Stan!" Richie looked down at the floor and cried. "I know I'm fucking stupid!!"

"Rich," Stan stood up, walking over to him. "It's okay."

"Nothing's okay, he's-he's gone!!!"

"That doesn't mean he'd want you to regret letting him die. I'm sorry, Richie, but he wouldn't have made it if he was sent to the hospital anyway."

Richie cried harder at the truth, and Stan put a hand on his shoulder. Stan was tearing up.

"He doesn't have to be put through hell anymore."

"I-I know..."

"He knew you loved him. We all did. We all do."

Richie nodded again, wiping his nose of runny snot. Stan then hugged Richie tightly, tears spilling on each other's shirts. The two of Eddie's best friends were absolutely devastated.

"I wish I could've saved him."

"Me too, Richie." The Jewish boy said. "We have to move on. For him. Not now, it's okay to cry and remember him now. But soon, maybe. We've gotta move on."

Richie nodded; Stan was right.

•

This chapter sux

I have no ideas or inspo right now for a new Reddie book (that doesn't mean I'm not writing anymore lol)

Epilogue next chapter.

Sorry for the delay on updating